Valve



Manh E4,'1950 w. P. DALRYMPLE VALVE Filed July 19, 1946 FIGB . I. INVENToR., WILLIAM P. DALRYMPLE Flc. 4

Flcfz ATTORNEYS' Patented Mar. 4, 19.50

omino ermee VALV Wiliam r. .nem/mpio, Rochester, N1. in, assign@ to American Brake Shoeompany; New York; N. Y., a corporation of Delaware eppur-lotion July i9, 194e, serial Nc.- iis-irte' The present invention relates to valves and particularly to that type of val-ves which are suitable for controlling the flow of a fluid, for ex'- amp-le compressed air; from a sou-roe of supply to a storage receptacle' or the like. The invention pertains moiepartioulariy to a combi-nation check valve and url-loader valve of simple construction which. is designed to' relieve the compression load on a fluid. compressortsuch as an air compressor, and. also to control the flow of Com-pressed air or the lilse from` such. compressor into a receptacle so that when theY compressor' is operating at an output pressure less` than that oi the storage receptacle, the reverse new from the receptacle is automatically prevented.

Inapparatus ol the character referred. to above,

has been. the practice in the past to provide for releasing` the compression ofy fluid compressors such as'` air compressors during startingv operations".A Compressors or the type referred to are commonly driven. by electric motors which have relatively low starting. torque and it is desirable that the load on the compressor he released temporari'ly to avoidovel-'l/"ieating'A oithe-motor. Vari- .ous' types of valves, both automatic and manually controllehave been: employed for this purpose. Compressed air is commonly stored storage receptacles suoli as cylindrical tan-ks and a check valve is commonly provided so that when" the compressor is not operating, or is operatingL only at low speed as during; starting', compressed liuid will not be lost from the storage receptacleA` In. the past both the check valve means and theunloader means referred to abovehave con mon-1y been: complex in' character and have been separately' applied and. manipulated. I have disfoovered that it is possible to combinev these elements for mutual cooperation in a simple` manner that is highly advantageous.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to .assemble a checkvalve and anunloader valve as a single unit so arranged that the closing of one lopens the other.v

AA further object is to design a combination checkv valve and unloader valve so that the ele ments thereofv operate conioin-tly in response to the pressure and/or the volumetric rate of output of` a, source of. fluid supply such. asy ank air compressor.

A1 furtherobject. is to combine a sel-f opening l'gluringstarting operations While retaining come Claims. (Ct evi-ezt) .tiriwiENT kOFFICE pressed flnid,y such as air, that is being held i storage.

`lmotlier object of my invention is to combine acheok valve with an' unloader Valve in a manner that the check valve will open partially and permit a limited flow of compressed duid, such air, to build upA pressure' for closing' the uploader valve as a1 .source of supply, such as an air compressor, builds up tdv an operating pressure and. 'volume output range.

Still another' object is to accomplish all the toregoin'g with a minimi-1m number or mechanical elements.-

An additional object is" to construct an auto'- .niatic compressor uploader in such a manner that it be adjusted to insurev its: proper closing and the proper opening" of an operably connected valve' when thef pressure and/or the voltrmetrio output for example" ofan air compressor, has re'aclied' a desired operatirrg level.

@ther and further objects of theA present ini/ens tion will be apparent from the-following description and claimsand are illustrated in the accom'- panying drawing Whi'cl'r,I by' way of illustration, shows a pref-erred embodiment of the present inventiorr and the principle' thereof and whaty Inovv consider to be the best mod" in vvliichli have Acoli-e template'd applyingl thatI principle; Other emiboclirrients of the` itin/eration embodying the? same or equivafent principle n'lay be used and str-tioi tural changes may be made as" desired by those slrill'ediv in the' art Without departing fromv the present invention and the purview of the app'ended claims;

In the drawings:

Fig. lv is'. an elevationalL view of a combination check valve andunlader irl-ade" acoordingfto'V my ',invention; i

. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View, terlcefriI slib"- -stantially along theY line 2:-12v of Fig. 111,'s`hov1'ingv `the i-iflternalv constructiony ot my improved valve assembly andishowing the unit attachedtoapor'f'- Vtion of a storagey re'ceptacle;

Fig-3 is a horizontal sectional detail view taken substantially from the lined-jt, Fig.y 2; and

Fig, 4f isa fraementaryvertical' sectional viejy cor-responding inf par-tto Figc'z showing" a modi-*- tied foi-mot my inventior i.V A

As is-V best shownin Eig. the devicek which .constitutes the presenti invention vis mounted in .the upper part ofa storage receptacle sucl'iF as tanky il provided gvith a boss lZ-Ywhichis threaded internally, as indicated at I3, to receive in fluid tight prelatioI-i the externally' thre a'ol edhv baise p'ofrltionI lli oi the iv/alve`v assembly unit I5. The valve unit I comprises a body portion I6 which may be a casting of suitable material, such as bronze or brass, for example, provided with an inlet opening l1 which is internally threaded as at i8 to receive a connection from a source of fluid supply.

The source of fluid supply may be the output connection of an air compressor, or it may be preferably the outlet end of an after-cooler connected to a compressor, where the use of such an after-cooler is desirable. Thus compressed air flows into the valve assembly through the inlet I1 and in the normal functioning of the assembly it passes downwardly through an opening i9 in the valve body IB to an outlet chamber 2l which connects with a series of openings 22 in a plug 23 which is threaded as at 24 into the base portion I4 referred to above. From the openings 22 compressed air normally passes into the storage receptacle where it is retained under pressure by the action of a check valve member 25 which is normally urged upwardly by a spring 26 to close `the opening I8 when the pressure in the inlet I1 is less than that in the storage receptacle, as .when the compressor, for example, is not operating.

to fit freely within the opening I9, permitting a limited now of fluid such as air between its periphery and the surrounding wall of the opening i9. On its lower surface the wall I 8, which defines the check valve opening, is surfaced as at 28 to -form a valve seat and the valve member 25 is formed with a sealing surface, as indicated at 23, to t tightly against the seat 28 and completely close the valve when in the fully raised position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. However, when the valve is not quite fully raised to this position, and the sealing element 28 is not firmly pressed against the seat 28, a limited ow of fluid as compressed air between the crown 21 and the sides of opening I9 is permitted as mentioned above.

The lower part of the valve element 25 comprises a cylindrical skirt portion which surrounds van upwardly extending boss or stud portion of the plug member 23. This boss portion is hollowed internally to provide a seat for the spring 26. AIn addition an enlarged chamber 3l is provided which serves as an air cushion to dampen viabration of the valve member 25 and to slow down its response to rapid fluctuations which may occur in the air compressor. The further purpose of this construction will be explained more fully hereinafter.

The upper end of the valve body I6 is provided with an internally threaded opening 33 which is closed by a threaded plug 34 having an opening lv35 drilled in the lower face thereof to receive the v extending upper guide stem 3B of an unloader valve disc closure element 31. This valve element tthe valve 31 is open, air may flow from the com- 'pressor through the needle valve to the open at- ;mosphere. Obviously, if desired, a tube could be connected from the valve member 42 to the intake side of the compressor if the fluid being compressed were of such a character as to make it desirable to prevent loss to the atmosphere.

The valve member 25 consists of a hollow cylindrical crown element 21 which is of a size adapted The needle valve 42 is externally threaded as at 44 into a threaded recess in the valve body member i6 and a lock nut 45 is provided to retain the valve member in a desired adjusted position. By this means the size of the opening around the needle valve point 4| may be set as desired so as to restrict the rate of flow from the compressor to the free atmosphere, the purpose of this being more fully explained hereinafter.

The valve disk 31 cooperates with a valve seat 4l formed around the opening 38 to completely close the outlet or unloader when the valve disk 31 is fully seated. In addition, the disk 31 is received within a tapering pocket defined by guide walls 4S which are an integral part of the body member I6 so that as the disk moves from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 to the full line position where it is fully closed, the ow of fluid around its edges becomes more and more restricted. The full line positions of the valve elements in Fig. 2 are the positions they assume when the compressor, not shown, is in full operation.

Between the annular guide wall element 48 and' the seat 41, a depressed annular channel portion 49 is provided surrounding the valve seat and a vertical opening 5i, as best shown in Fig. 3, is provided in this channel to receive a vertically extending rod 52 which extends as a strut between the lower face of the valve disk 31 and the upper surface 53 of the check valve member 25. The construction is such that when the check valve is fully closed, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, the rod 52 raises the unloader valve off its seat and above the surrounding guide wall 48 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 so that the unloader valve is fully open. The rate of flow of fluid, such as compressed air, to the free atmosphere is then completely controlled by the setting of needle valve 42. On the other hand, when the unloader valve is fully closed, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the rod 52 necessarily holds the check valve open.

The operation of the various elements described above is as follows; When the source of fluid pressure, an air compressor for example, is being started up, its pressure output is relatively low, and the volume of air flowing therefrom is small. In order to avoid over-loading the drive motor, 'which as indicated above is normally an electric motor but may be of some other type, the valve assembly 3l operates automatically to unload the compressor and allow the air being supplied thereby to flow past the needle valve 42 to the free atmosphere. There is at this time no substantial resistance to operation of the compressor and it may quickly approach its normal operating speed without material overload on the motor. However, as it approaches normal operating speed its volumetric output rate rapidly increases and the restricted flow channel at the point 4I of the needle valve 42 is inadequate to take care of the increasing volume. As a result, pressure begins to build lup in the inlet chamber l1 and in the upper extension thereof indicated at 55 under the plug member 34 and above and surrounding the valve disk 31. The increased rate of flow past the disk 31 tends to drag it downwardly into the surrounding guide wall 48 and, as the disk is lowered, the air passage about its periphery becomes increasingly restricted by the convergence of the surrounding guide wall member 48 toward the edges of the disk. At the move the check valve 25 downwardly to separate tliesealing element 29 from theseat `:258; In'` its fully raise'd position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 Athe force exerted by spring 25 on the check valve 2-5 is rather light, the spring 26 at such times being quite fully expanded. Hence, as soon asi the press-ure in the inlet I1 substantially exceeds that in the storage receptacle, or that in the outlet chamber 2l, the check valve 25 is opened against air pressure below it-and the resulting ilow of air quickly builds up pressure in inlet chamber l'i. This further increases flowvelocity of air past the unloader valve disk 31 andthe effect of such flow, plus increase of pres-V sure above, is adequate to quickly close the unloader valve. The opening of the check valve permits thepin 52 to descend and thus allow the Valve 3-'1 to fully close.

It will be understood that the needle valve 42 may be adjusted to take care of the requirements' of various sizes or various operating speeds of compressors. lf the volumetric output of the compressor is small it may approach full operating speed without requiring a very large opening at the needle valve. On the other hand if the output rate is larger, the valve 42 should be opened Wider so as to permit a greater volume of compressed fluid to be released before the unloader begins to close. It will be understood also that the `characteristics of the check valve have an important bearing on the time of closing of the unloader valve. If the device is to be used with a wide range of compressors or the like, the spring 28 may need to be changed to meet Widely varying conditions. c In Fig. fl a modied form is shown wherein the valve disk 31A kcorresponding to the valve 31 is normally held in a raised position by a light coil spring (il. This spring is seated in the annular recess 49 which in other respects is identical with that shown in Fig. 2. The guide wall member 48 which restricts flow of iiuid around the disk as it approaches closed position also is identical in function and purpose with the same element in Fig. 2. The valve disk member 31A however, has its stem portion 36A seated in a threaded opening 35A under an adjustable screw 63 which is threaded into the plug 34A. A lock nut 65 is provided for holding the screw 53 in a desired position of adjustment.

A rod 52A, which is identical or substantially identical with the rod 52 shown in Fig. 2, eX- tends below the valve disk 31 and rests on the upper surface of the check valve which is not shown in Fig. 4 but is identical with that shown in Fig. 2.

The seat element 41A of the unloader valve in Fig. 4 is substantially identical with that in Fig. 2, and the central opening 38A in the valve of Fig. 4 connects with a transverse bore 39A, but, unlike the construction in Fig. 2, no needle valve is provided. Instead the adjustment of the screw 63 against the stem 36A of the valve 31A is relied upon to dispose the disk in relation to the concentric surrounding guide wall member 48 so that the now of uid through the unloader is properly related to the operating speed and volumetric output of the compressor. Thus by adjusting the screw 53, the disk 31A is positioned within the restricted guide element 48 and the iiow of air about the periphery of the disk and through the passages 48 and 49A to the free atmosphere is restricted and tends to drag the valve downwardly to closed position as the flow increases.

` When the compressor approaches normal op- 6 erating speed'the force applied to the dskfST by the rush of air about its periphery to the vent 39A is suiicient to not only drag the disk downs wardly, butto apply force to the pin 52A which rests on the check valve 25. Hence the yflow of air through the unloader assists in opening the check valve. Pressure in inlet chamber- I1 is of course the major force in opening the valve 25. When opening occurs, air within the storage receptacle ows fupwardly through the ports 22; Fig. 2, into the chamber 2i and through the re# stricted passage at l5 around the valve element 2 to quickly build up pressure within the upper or inlet compartment l1 and facilitate closing of the unloader valve 31A against the force of its spring 6|'. "It will thus be seen that in the modification of Fig. 4, as in theembodiment of Fig. 2, the partial opening of the check valve and the cone sequent build up of pressure in chamber 1,` is relied upon to supply part of the force for com-l pletely closing the unloader when the motor driv-A ing the compressor attains normal operating speed. The simple expedient of a pin as 52 or 52A extending between the two valve members insures that closing of the check valve will open the unloader when, for example,vthe compressor is shut down. Thus the compressor is normally free to the open atmosphere for starting andi, on the other hand, as soon as operating pressure is attained and the compressor brought up to speed, the closing of the unloader assists in the positive and wide opening of the check valve so as to provide for free and unrestricted entry'of fluid from the compressor into the storage receptacle Il. The air chamber 5l within the valve member 25 is in communication with the air in the cham-i4 ber 2i, but since the sleeve 25 ts quite snugly about the stud member 23, the chamber 3 I is not as responsive to changes in pressure `as other parts of the assembly. Hence, it acts as a dash pot, serving to dampen vibration caused by pres sure surges te prevent chattering of the valve 2i!- in response to variation in the pressure output of the air compressor.

Hence, while I have illustrated audldescribed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of varia tion and modication and I therefore do not wish to he limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alter--r ations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

. I claim: 1. A combination check valve andunloading valve comprising a valve body member having an outlet port adapted to be connected to a compressed air storage receptacle, and an inlet port adapted to be connected to the output of an air compressor for feeding compressed air to said outlet port, a check valve mounted in said housing between said ports and adapted to be opened when pressure of air supplied to said inlet exceeds the pressure of air at said outlet a predetermined amount, a spring connected to said check valve and tending to close the latter, means aiording a relief port in said housing, means affording a passageway for establishing communication between said relief port and said inlet port for feeding air from said inlet port into said relief port, an unloader valve mounted in said passageway and movable into and out of closed relation to said relief port for controlling the flow of air into the latter from said inlet port, said unloader valve aording' an obstruction in said passageway in a manner whereby said unloader valve is responsive to the flow of air through said passageway and is adapted to be closed automatically by such air when the volumetric rate of flow of air through said passageway past said unloader valve reaches a predetermined maximum, and means operatively connecting said check valve and said unloader valve in a manner whereby closing of said check valve is operable` to open said unloader valve, and closing of said unloader valve is operable to open said check valve, 2. A valve comprising a valve housing having an inlet port for receiving working fluid and an outlet port for discharging working fluid a partition member in said housing and dividing the interior thereof into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, said inlet port opening into said inlet chamber, and said outlet port opening into said outlet chamber, said partition member having a port therethrough, a valve seat on said partition member and positioned around said last named port, said housing having a relief port in communication with the atmosphere, another valve seat in said housing defining the inner end of said relief port, means defining a tapered passageway aiording communication between said relief port and said inlet chamber for discharging working fluid admitted through said inlet port to the atmosphere, a valve member in said tapered passageway for controlling the llow of working uid from said inlet chamber through said relief port, said valve member being movable through said tapered passageway to afford an obstruction therein and being responsive to the volume of ud passing from said inlet chamber through said relief port so as to close automatically against said other valve seat when said volume exceeds a predetermined amount, a check valve mounted in said outlet chamber for controlling the ilow of working uicl through said port in said partition member, spring means urging said check valve toward closed position relative to said first mentioned valve seat, said check valve being adapted to open when the pressure of working iluid in said inlet chamber exceeds the pressure of working fluid in said outlet chamber a predetermined amount, and an elongated member operatively interconnecting said valve member and said check valve whereby closing of said check valve is eiective to open said valve member and closing of said valve member is effective to open said check valve.

3. A valve comprising a housing having an inlet port adapted to be connected to a source of iluid pressure, an outlet port adapted to be connected toA a receiver, and an internal passageway oper-l atively connecting said ports, a partition member in said passageway dividing the latter into an r closed position, said cylinder being adapted to move into open position when the iluid pressure in said inlet chamber exceeds the iluid pressure in said outlet chamber a predetermined amount, said housing having a relief passageway formed therein, said relief passageway having one end opening to the atmosphere and the other end opening to the interior of said housing, means including an outwardly flaring flange affording a tapered passageway operatively connecting said other end of said relief passageway with said inlet chamber, a valve member mounted in said tapered passageway and movable into open and closed position relative to said other end of said relief passageway, said valve member being responsive to the volume of fluid owing through said tapered passageway from said inlet chamber so as to close automatically when said volume exceeds a, predetermined amount, and an elongated plunger mounted in said housing and extending between said cylinder and said valve member in a manner whereby closing ofisaid check valve is effective to open said valve member and closing of said valve member is effective to open said check valve,

WILLIAM P. DALRYMPLE.

REFERENCES CITED rIhe following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,071 Steedman Feb. 6, 1917 1,421,309 Rediield June 27, 1922 1,428,981 Redfield Sept. l2, 1922 1,850,117 McMillan Mar. 22, 1932 2,015,801 Johnson Oct. l, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date' y 460,088 France Sept. 25, 1913 

